Recreating with gear on Mt. Hood this year? Hop the Mt. Hood Express, running from the City of Sandy east to Timberline Lodge. New buses are equipped with plenty of ski gear storage. For the price of a cup of coffee, you can ditch your car and hitch a ride to many Mt. Hood National Forest, Timberline Lodge and Skibowl trails.

Year-round schedules are integrated with those of TriMet. Express Yourself!

How often will it run?
The new service will run seven days per week, year around. There will be five bus runs every day and two additional bus runs during the winter season from Dec. 1st to March 31st. There will continue to be two local runs in the Villages communities six days per week. SAM will add bus service on Saturday mornings and on Sunday between Sandy and Gresham to provide connections throughout the week.

Mt. Hood Express does not operate on the following holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Villages Shuttle does not operate on the following holidays: New Years, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Bus may be delayed, go on snow route, or service cancelled during severe weather conditions. Check local news stations or call 503-668-3466 for current information. For weather see the ODOT Trip Check website.

How much to ride?
Fares for a one way ride will continue to be $2.

The new service model includes a public-private partnership between Clackamas County, Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood Ski Bowl and The Resort at the Mountain to provide financial support for the operations of the expanded service.

What about accessibility?
Buses are wheelchair lift equipped and drivers are trained to provide assistance. Priority seating is available on all buses for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Controlled service animals are welcome. Pets are permitted in a carrier only. Buses are equipped with bike racks.

How is this service funded?
The Mt. Hood Express is funded through a Public/Private partnership. The previously-operated Mountain Express relied on Business Energy Tax Credits to fund a substantial portion of its operations. That Tax Credit program ended earlier in 2013, leaving the local, flag-stop service without funding.

The generous support of Timberline Lodge, Mt. Hood Skibowl and The Resort at The Mountain have provided the required grant fund match for the Mt. Hood Express service to be awarded new transit funds. Without their support, the service would no longer be in existence.